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Friday, January 30, 2015

Cleopatra Records will be releasing two rare live albums by UK progressive rock legends Renaissance. The first release on February 3rd is DeLane Lea Studios 1973; a captivating live-in-the-studio recording from Renaissance performing to a small gathering of friends at the historic DeLane Lea Studios in London (used by everyone from The Beatles to Queen, Jimi Hendrix & Pink Floyd). Beguiling vocalist Annie Haslam leads her group through nearly the entire fourth album Ashes Are Burning with special guest appearances by Wishbone Ash's Andy Powell and folk singer Al Stewart.

DeLane Lea Studios 1973 track list:1. Can You Understand2. Let It Grow3. Sounds of the Sea4. Carpet of the Sun5. At the Harbour6. Ashes Are Burning (with Andy Powell and Al Stewart)7. PrologueRenaissance's Academy of Music 1974 will be released on March 31st and is an astonishing live performance of the ensemble at the height of their career. The concert showcases the band's latest release at the time Ashes Are Burning. Unlike other prog-rock groups, Renaissance forwent much of the technology in favor of acoustic instruments and orchestral arrangements. Electric guitars and synthesizers were seldom used, giving the band's music more of a symphonic sound.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

In conjunction with their appearance at RoSfest on May 2nd, Haken are excited to announce some additional dates in North America and Canada.If you are reading this and thinking, "Why aren't they coming to my city!?", remember, it isn't that simple. If these shows are a success, the chances are the promoter will want to book them for more in the future, so if you can make a road trip, they'd really, really appreciate it!Haken released the critically acclaimed The Mountain in 2013 and recently released an EP called Restoration.

And contrary to Magma's limited North American Tour, Haken is coming to Montreal. Ticketing info is coming soon.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

One of music's most innovative and eclectic ensembles Magma will be performing select North American dates beginning in April 2015. Swirling riffs in odd time signatures, theatrical choir arrangements, heavy and distorted pulsing bass guitar, bombastic and minimalistic (sometimes both at the same time), dark and brooding, adventurous and angelic, jazzy or classical, but always with the highly innovative and original drums of founder and main composer Christian Vander. On the forthcoming US dates the legendary ensemble will be performing selections of new and classic Magma music.

“Magma is happy to return to the United States to play for Americans. We know you are passionate, respectful and curious about music. We find you to be generous and open. It will be a joy for us to see you this year.” - Christian Vander

Singer/songwriter Jon Anderson's “Mysteries of Music” special is now on Soundcloud.In this 40-minute special, Jon talks about his own musical development as well as his appreciation for World Music and the sounds of nature. The soundtrack includes many examples of these topics, as well as the Yes masterpiece Awaken.To listen go to: https://soundcloud.com/jon-anderson-online/jon-anderson-mysteries-of-music-specialIn other news, Gonzo Multimedia recently released of a new charity single The Family Circle by Jon Anderson and former Counting Crows bassist Matt Malley. The money received from the single will go to the following charities: Flutie Foundation – (Jon Anderson), Sahaja Yoga Meditation – (Matt Malley) and National Autistic Society (Rob Ayling, GONZO Multimedia president).Listen to a sample of the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hATdN-XMBSQ

Monday, January 26, 2015

We have just learned of the passing of Greek composer and singer Demis Roussos in the morning of Sunday, January 25th 2015, in Athens, at the age of 68.Known worldwide for his international hit singles, it is well known to us "prog heads" that Demis met Evangelos Papathanassiou (Vangelis) and Loukas Sideras when he was 17 years of age in a band called The Idols, and later formed Aphrodite's Child in 1967 with those same band mates.

Although having recorded only three albums together, the band is still recognized today as one of the founders of the early progressive rock movement, thanks mostly to their final record, a concept album called 666.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Founding member and leader of Tangerine Dream, Edgar Willmar Froese, died on January 20, 2015 due to a pulmonary embolism, in Vienna, Austria. The news was made public by his son Jerome on Tangerine Dream's website on the 23rd of January with the following words:

Dear friends & colleagues, the Captain has left the ship ... I'm very sorry to inform you that my father Edgar Froese passed away on Tuesday afternoon (20th of January) in Vienna. And as you already know: Life plays no encores. Rest in peace Edgar, you will be sadly missed.

As the member of Tangerine Dream to have gone through all of its incarnations, Edgar leaves behind him friends, family, and co-workers, as well as an impressive body of work written over the course of 48 years.

With rumours flying all over the internet that Porcupine Tree will reform after Steven Wilson's latest album launch and tour are completed, the man himself decided to weigh in publicly during an interview with FaceCulture.Here is the video, via Youtube.

To hear and see more I invite you to follow the link above to FaceCulture's website.﻿

The follow-up to Nine Lives (2013), New Day Rising, by the Von Hertzen Brothers is slated to be released on March 23 2015. You can pre-order it on Amazon (in the UK) or through the Von Hertzen Brothers' own shop here: http://www.backstagerockshop.com/en/shop/vonhertzenbrothers/new+day+rising+presales.The brothers – Mikko, Kie & Jonne Von Hertzen – entered the studio, The Farm in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Grammy-nominated Canadian producer Garth ‘GGGarth’ Richardson (Biffy Clyro, Rage Against The Machine, etc.), plus regular drummer Mikko Kaakkuriniemi & keyboard player Juha Kuoppala, and the result is their most ambitious release to date.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One, Guilt Machine) & Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering, Devin Townsend Project) are set to release the debut album The Diary from their new band The Gentle Storm on March 24, 2015, and now they are pleased to reveal the first music to be taken from the record. You can watch the lyric video for the track Endless Sea (Storm Version).

"Endless Sea is the album opener and it serves as an introduction to our story-based album. Susanne, the main character, sings about her busband Joseph, who has just sailed out on another long voyage to the Far East. We are very excited to offer everybody a first taste of our forthcoming album with the release of these lyric videos. This is such a special album to the both us."

The album concept is a tale of love, loss, and separation told through the story of two fictional seventeenth-century lovers. A Dutch sailor embarks on a two-year voyage, leaving his wife at home in Holland. The only way for the couple to communicate and keep their love alive during the long separation is through letters. These letters form the basis for the songs on the album.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Lonely Robot, the new project masterminded by producer, guitarist and vocalist John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*, Arena), recently announced the release of its debut album Please Come Home on 23rd February 2015. A teaser has been launched in advance of the records release, welcoming listeners into the Lonely Robot world, and you can check that out here:

"I'd long thought about doing an album where I could have total control from start to finish with the music, lyrics, production, and choosing who I wanted to contribute - expanding from the idea of just a solo album. Musically, this album is very proggy, but more about atmosphere than technical expertise, inspired by my love of science fiction and interest in the evolution of the human race."

The track-listing for the album is as follows:1. Airlock2. God vs. Man3. The Boy in the Radio4. Why Do We Stay?5. Lonely Robot6. A Godless Sea7. Oubliette8. Construct/Obstruct9. Are We Copies?10. Humans Being11. The Red Balloon

Friday, January 16, 2015

Following up on 2013's extremely successful Shrine of New Generation Slave release, Polish prog masters Riverside are now working on a new studio album, to be released August/September 2015 via InsideOutMusic.

Riverside just finished composing all material and announced Love, Fear and the Time Machine as the title of their sixth album, further commenting:

"Our sixth album, six words in the title, sixty minutes of new music, that's about how long the new release will be. And we won't be playing hard rock any more", Mariusz Duda laughs. "There will be many more melodies dressed in completely different shades. We're changing and evolving as a band, we're growing up but most of all we want to keep recording different albums which are simply great to listen to. And the new one will be like a deep breath of fresh air, very different to what we'd done before."

"Love, fear and the times that have shaped us have the biggest influence on our life choices. The lyrics will be about everything that pushes us to make the most important decisions in our life."

The band are going to start recording the new material in March and it will be possible to follow the progress of their work on a special Instagram profile: www.instagram.com/riversideband.plSome of the new songs will already be played at this year's summer festivals. Here is an overview of all upcoming Riverside festival appearances announced so far for 2015:

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Music pioneer Steve Hackett has announced the release of his new solo album Wolflight. According to the man himself, this "wild pack of tracks - starting with a wolf cry" will be released on March 30th, 2015.Wolflight is Steve's first original solo studio album since Beyond the Shrouded Horizon in 2011. Primal and orchestral, it retains the Hackett trademark as electric guitar runs right the way through with a regular sprinkling of acoustic.The ten tracks take the listener through a journey in space and time looking at the different faces of the endless fight for freedom. Hackett explores contemporary and ancient cultures, from Greece (Corycian Fire) to the Far East (Wolflight), the USA and Martin Luther King (Black Thunder), but also his very own childhood memories (The Wheel's Turning) and the unresolved drama of domestic violence (Love Song to a Vampire).Guest Musicians include long time collaborators Roger King (Keyboards & programming), Gary O'Toole (drums), Rob Townsend (sax, duduk), Nick Beggs (bass & stick) and Amanda Lehmann (harmony vocals). Malik Mansurov on tar and Sara Kovaks on didgeridoo add an extra exotic element, plus YES bassist Chris Squire plays on Love Song to a Vampire and Hugo Dagenhardt plays drums on Dust and Dreams. The innovative song writing team includes Steve Hackett, his wife Jo Hackett and also Roger King.

Wolflight track list:

1- Out of the Body

2- Wolflight

3- Love Song to a Vampire

4- The Wheel's Turning

5- Corycian Fire

6- Earthshine

7- Loving Sea

8- Black Thunder

9- Dust and Dreams

10- Heart Song

The album will be released in the following formats:Special edition CD & Blu-Ray mediabook2LP & CD Gatefold vinylCD Standard JewelcaseDigital DownloadSteve will also embark upon his Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour in October 2015, with 19 UK shows. Celebrating 40 years since the release of Voyage to the Acolyte, culminating with his latest release and revisiting old Genesis favorites.Steve Hackett Acolyte to Wolflight with Genesis Revisited - The Total Experience UK Tour October 20156 October - GLive, Guildford7 October - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London9 October - Derngate, Northampton10 October - St David's Hall, Cardiff 11 October - O2 Guildhall, Southampton13 October - The Anvil, Basingstoke14 October - Barbican, York16 October - Music Hall, Aberdeen17 October - The Sage, Gateshead18 October - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow20 October - Town Hall, Leeds21 October - Venue Cymru, Llandudno23 October - Philharmonic, Liverpool24 October - de Montfort Hall, Leicester25 October - The Lowry, Salford27 October - Regent Theatre, Ipswich28 October - Colston Hall, Bristol30 October - Symphony Hall, Birmingham31 October - Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

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Prog World is broadcast every Saturday at 8 PM GMT on http://www.rivergibbsfm.com/, and repeated on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
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